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We traveled with Grand Circle's China & the Yangtze and everything that pjtraveler said about Uniworld also appllies to Grand Circle and probably others, except that there was no problem with using voltage converters on the ship and, even in Hong Kong, all meals were provided. Some people ate independently out of choice, but there was no need to. I did a blog on the trip that would probably apply to other operators. It is http://jackthetravelingman-china.blogspot.com

Doing some research - and time may be a challenge for some of the family members. First option was mid-March (ie: start around March 15th) - which may be a bit cool for Beijing, but nice for the Yangzte and Shanghai.

Now, Mid-june is being discussed. I am concerned about the heat, as I am worried that this is getting into summer weather.

I too have been investigating the China itinerary. We are June-July travelers, but after the study thus far it appears to me that the optimum time for China is May & if into June make it very very early June. The temps in Beijing are in high 80's and 90's today with this coming Sunday being 100F. Shanghai appears around 10 degrees cooler, but stays pretty warm also. Based on this I am trying to figure a way we can adjust schedules - had enough 100+ temps at home last year & near that already this year.

Doing some research - and time may be a challenge for some of the family members. First option was mid-March (ie: start around March 15th) - which may be a bit cool for Beijing, but nice for the Yangzte and Shanghai.

Now, Mid-june is being discussed. I am concerned about the heat, as I am worried that this is getting into summer weather.

Can someone comment?

Thanks so much.

Fran

Just returned from our trip (June 17-July 3rd), and our trip was exceedingly hot and humid the entire trip without a break. Mid to upper 90's (close to 100), and very high humidity the entire time--no matter whether it was Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Yichang, Shanghai, Hangzhou or Yangzhou.

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Air pollution may be a big factor for some. We rarely saw blue sky in any portion of China. They like to call it mist and some of it may be natural inversion, but it is clearly a pollution problem.

I agree that air quality was terrible too. Code purple or maroon (by US EPA AQI standards) in Beijing and Shanghai on most days. So if you don't want to be exposed to the equivalent of second hand cigarette smoke in a crowded restaurant, diligently follow the Beijing U.S. Embassy and Shanghai consulate AQI feeds, and wear your air masks as needed! In addition, most photos will have a hazy quality, not because your camera lens is dirty but because the air is so bad you can SEE it.

If walking is an issue, you may run into difficulty with the Forbidden City/Tianamen portion (a bit of a 'long march') and the Great Wall. Depending on the river, it's a bit of a haul down to the boat in Cheonching (sp?)

We had a passenger with celiac in our group and the guide bent over backward to assure their dietary needs were met

If there are names to be called, 'cheerleader' ain't bad. I call things as I see them - for good or ill. I have noted on these boards that people with only big cruise ship experiences tend to find river cruising a disappointment . I don't . I enjoy both in different ways. To me, the biggest similarity is that your hotel goes with...which is why I cruise at all.

If walking is an issue, you may run into difficulty with the Forbidden City/Tianamen portion (a bit of a 'long march') and the Great Wall. Depending on the river, it's a bit of a haul down to the boat in Cheonching (sp?)

I think I have solved our problem but we won't be able to sail on a river boat in China.

We love river cruising and will continue to do so, but not for China.

We've booked passage on a Celebrity ship for April 2014. The ship puts in to a port about 2 hours from Beijing and will be there 3 days. We will arrange a private tour guide who will pick us up at the ship each day and hire a wheel chair and wheel chair pusher, if possible, in the City.

We will go to the Great Wall, the square and the Forbidden City. Anything else that can be fit in will be a bonus.

At least DH will be able to have two meals per day that we don't have to worry about on the ship. He can manage a lite lunch or snack while we sightsee.

I would have much preferred to do a river cruise, but we can't jeopardize his health and it would be so disappointing if he could not see the sights because of his mobility issues.

I am a little amazed that some people were put out by the term "cheerleader" but I was looking for specific answers and was getting "I like XYZ line" and not the answers. That was my reference to "cheerleaders".

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